Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Supporting our senior community to lead healthy, vibrant lives through social participation, companionship, and cultural connection.
From Sri Lanka, our community journeyed across the world — to Australia, Germany, the USA, and Canada — before putting down roots in Edmonton and forming ESSTA.
An animated spinning globe highlighting Sri Lanka in red, with arcs tracing the migration of Sri Lankan Tamils to Australia, Germany, the United States, and Canada, where the Edmonton Senior Sri Lankan Tamils Association was formed.
Our Roots
Tamil is one of the oldest languages in human history. Those who speak Tamil are called Thamilar or Tamils. For more than 17 centuries, South India and the Northern and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka have been the traditional homelands of Tamils.
About one thousand years ago, Tamils from South India crossed the high seas on trade and military missions to Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, and beyond. Sri Lankan Tamils mainly remained in their traditional homeland of Sri Lanka.
During the British Colonial era, a small number of Sri Lankan Tamils migrated to Malaysia and Singapore, while Tamils from South India were brought to Sri Lanka by the British Colonial administration to work in tea plantations in the hill country.
Following independence in 1948, Sri Lanka became a self-governing country and Sri Lankan Tamils continued to live as a minority community. Over the last four decades, Sri Lankan Tamils began emigrating to Western countries in significant numbers — settling in Canada, the UK, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, and beyond.
Our Home
A small fraction of those who settled in Canada moved further west to Edmonton. We are proud to say that Sri Lankan Tamils in Edmonton have contributed more than their share of knowledge and service to Edmonton, Alberta, and Canada as a whole.
The time has come — they are reaching their retirement age and are looking forward to enjoying the retirement they have earned.
Our Mission
The purpose of the Edmonton Senior Sri Lankan Tamils Association (ESSTA) is to facilitate seniors to lead a healthy and vibrant life through social participation and engagement.
ESSTA brings together Edmonton's senior Sri Lankan Tamil community — honoring our shared heritage while building meaningful connections for the years ahead.
What We Do
ESSTA designs and delivers a mix of programs aligned with our purpose, including the following — and more as our community grows.
Providing facilities to meet on a regular basis and stay connected with one another.
Providing professional information on health, diet, physical exercise, and well-being.
Providing companionship and moral support in times of need.
Arranging outings and tours suitable and enjoyable for seniors.
Acquainting and promoting ethnic cultures to younger generations.
Join Us
Complete the form below to apply for membership in the Edmonton Senior Sri Lankan Tamils Association. Annual membership dues are $30 per person. We will review your application and be in touch shortly.
Thank you for applying to ESSTA. We have received your membership application and will contact you soon.
Connect With Us
Whether you are a senior member of our community, a family member, or someone who would like to support our work — we welcome you to reach out.
Contact details will be updated as the association formalizes its communications.